CROWN OF THE HOLLOW KING

Plot Overview & The Twist

An unholy shadow has fallen over the Ruined Countryside bordering the Plains of Bone. Sir Kenneth the Hollow, a once-noble champion corrupted into an Evil Knight, has emerged from exile. He is preparing to invade the peaceful farming settlements nearby. To ensure his conquest, he has uncovered A Mysterious Crown—an ancient artifact forged by dark sorcery.

The Twist: The crown doesn't give Kenneth immediate military might; instead, it projects a hypnotic pulse across the land. It allows him to enslave others by turning captured villagers into mindless, iron-skinned thralls. Sir Kenneth intends to march an unstoppable, brainwashed army across Tallanon. The heroes must track him through the blighted ruins, bypass his traps, break the crown's hold over an innocent survivor, and destroy Sir Kenneth before his thrall army is fully mobilized.

SCENE 1: THE ASHEN VESTIGES (Wilderness Encounter)

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You step into the Ruined Countryside. Where fields of golden wheat once waved, there is only blackened ash and skeletal trees. The silence is heavy, broken only by a chilling breeze. Suddenly, a thick, unnatural fog roolls over the ridges, masking the trail and carrying the faint smell of ozone and rot. From the mist, a terrifying pack of crimson-eyed creatures lunges forward, teeth bared!

The Challenge: The heroes are ambushed in the unnatural mist. Due to the environment, all Awareness tests are rolled with a +2 difficulty modifier.

Enemy Stat Blocks:

Blighted Wild Dogs (x3): HP 8, Offense 5 (Bite), Defense 0, Move: 10. Skills: Brawl (4), Agility (4), Awareness (4).

Resolution: Once the dogs are defeated, the heroes find tracks leading deeper into a crumbled watchtower. A successful Simple (6) Wilderness Lore Test reveals these beasts were acting under a forced, telepathic compulsion rather than natural hunger.

SCENE 2: THE CRUMBLING WATCHTOWER (The Trap)

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Following the heavy, iron-shod footprints of Sir Kenneth, you enter the courtyard of a shattered stone watchtower. The structure leans precariously, its wooden gates rotted away. A single, dark doorway leads down into an underground armory. As you cross the threshold, your foot catches a tightly wound copper tripwire hidden beneath the debris!

The Trap (Jet of Flame): A mechanical rig attached to an alchemical canister snaps open, throwing a jet of liquid fire across the entrance hallway.

Trigger: Stepping on the tripwire without a successful Moderate (10) Awareness Test to spot it.

Effect: Deals 6 fire damage to the leading Hero. The target can make an Easy (8) Agility Reaction Test to dive out of the way, taking half damage (3 HP) on a success.

Loot: Searching the mechanism with a successful Simple (6) Roguery Test allows a hero to safely salvage the remaining fuel: 1x Flask of Highly Flammable Alchemical Oil (can be thrown in combat to deal 4 fire damage to a target).

SCENE 3: THE CAPTURED BLACKSMITH (Role-Playing & Mystery)

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Descending into the armory, the sound of rhythmic clanging echoes against the damp stone. Standing before an anvil is a hulking man, blindly hammering away at jagged iron breastplates. His eyes glow with a dull, sickening purple light, and a heavy iron collar is welded around his neck. He doesn't notice you, repeating his task like an unthinking automaton.

The Interaction: This is Brandon, the village blacksmith. He is completely under the hypnotic influence of Sir Kenneth's Mysterious Crown. He cannot be reasoned with normally; if approached carelessly, he will raise his smithing hammer to attack the "intruders."

Solving the Mystery: * An Easy (8) Magic Test or Moderate (10) Folklore Test reveals that the iron collar serves as an arcane antenna channeling the Crown's power.

To save Brandon without killing him, one hero must distract him while another attempts a Moderate (10) Roguery Test (using tools) or a Hard (12) Might Test (using brute force) to shatter or pry off the collar.

The Clues: If freed, Brandon snaps out of his trance, coughing and weeping. He reveals vital information: "Sir Kenneth has taken up residence in the central keeps' courtyard. The Mysterious Crown splits his mind—he is channeling its power into a central beacon. If you destroy the glowing obsidian crystal he used to focus the crown's signal, his thralls will turn on him!"

SCENE 4: THE ARMORY REBOUBT (The Simple Puzzle)

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To reach the keep's main courtyard, you must pass through the high security vault of the armory. A massive steel door bars the way, locked by a strange clockwork mechanism. Above the lock, three stone carvings depict a crown, a sword, and a broken chain. Below them sit three metallic gears that can be spun to line up various symbols.

The Puzzle Setup: The mechanism is an ancient security checkpoint meant to represent the balance of a ruler. To unlock the door, the three gears must be set to the corresponding alignment that reflects Sir Kenneth's dark perversion of leadership:

The Crown must be aligned with the symbol of The Void / Tyranny (representing the Mysterious Crown's true dark nature).

The Sword must be aligned with Blood / Invasion (representing his preparations).

The Broken Chain must be aligned with The Shackle / Enslavement.

The Checks: Heroes can decipher the faded runes around the gears by passing a Simple (6) Craftsmanship Test or a Moderate (10) Awareness Test.

Failure Consequence: If an incorrect combination is locked in, the vault triggers a defense grid, emitting a Deafening Noise. All heroes must pass an Easy (8) Magic Resistance Test or be staggered (–2 to all rolls) for the first round of the upcoming battle.

SCENE 5: MARCH OF THE THRALLED SOULS (Climactic Boss Fight)

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The vault doors hiss open, revealing the shattered open-air courtyard of the countryside keep. There stands Sir Kenneth, clad in dark, jagged plate armor, a glowing purple crown resting upon his horned helm. Behind him, a massive obsidian crystal projects waves of violet light into the sky. Flanking him are two heavily armored vanguard soldiers, their eyes glowing with blank servitude. Sir Kenneth draws his massive greatsword. 'You are just in time to join my vanguard,' he sneers. 'Tallanon will bow!'

The Tactical Setup: Sir Kenneth is utilizing the obsidian crystal to empower his heavy armor. While the crystal remains intact, he projects an Unholy Aura granting him massive protection.

The Environmental Objective: Instead of attacking Sir Kenneth directly while he is shielded, a Hero can spend an action to attack the Focus Crystal (HP 12, Defense 0) or attempt a Moderate (10) Magic Test to disrupt its energy matrix. Destroying or disrupting the crystal shatters the Crown's connection, instantly reducing Sir Kenneth's Defense by 3 and causing his two thralled guards to fall prone in disorientation.

Enemy Stat Blocks:

Sir Kenneth (Boss - Evil Knight): * HP: 26

Offense: 8 (Unholy Greatsword)

Defense: 4 (Drops to 1 if the Focus Crystal is destroyed)

Move: 8

Skills: Sword-Play (6), Might (6), Endurance (5), Magic Resistance (4).

Special Ability - Corrupting Strike: Once per combat, Sir Kenneth can channel the crown through his blade. If he hits, the target takes normal damage and must pass a Moderate (10) Endurance Test or be slowed as their limbs briefly turn to heavy iron.

Enslaved Vanguard Guards (x2): * HP: 10

Offense: 5 (Halberd)

Defense: 2 (Iron Skin armor)

Move: 7

Skills: Spear-Play (4), Endurance (4).

Resolution & Ultimate Reward: When Sir Kenneth falls, the Mysterious Crown shatters into harmless, brittle glass. The dark purple light fades from the eyes of the remaining thralls across the countryside, freeing them from their nightmare.

Among Sir Kenneth's remains, the heroes uncover his war chest containing:

• • 200 Gold Crowns

  • 1x Lesser Healing Balm (Restores 3 HP after an hour's rest)

  • The Dread-Iron Breastplate (Heavy Armour: Grants +3 Defense, but requires a minimum Might of 5 to wear without a movement penalty).